BOLT ACTION – HISTORICAL SCENARIO Les Moulins, Normandy – August the 2nd 1944 th
The operation Bluecoat began on the 30 of july, 1944. After a rough start, the next day, elements of the VIII corps managed to capture a bridge over the river Souleuvre allowing the 11th armoured division and the Guards Armoured division to advance between two German army groups. In order to stop this progression, Marshall Von Kluge ordered the II SS Panzer-Korps with the 9 and 10 SS Panzer Divisions and the 102 SS Schwere Panzer Abteilung to move west from the Caen sector towards Vire.
Tanks have an especially hard time bursting through the hedgerows. Whenever a tracked vehicle tries to move through a hedgerow, roll a die. On a 1 or 2, the vehicle gets stuck and does not break through at all (as if the terrain was impassable) – it moves ends. Vehicles with a damage value of 10 or greater get a +1 to this roll. One a tank has passed through a hedgerow; it
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On 2 of august, a British battle group moved towards Presles, northeast of Vire. The tanks of the rd th 23 Hussars and the infantry of the 8 battalion, the Rifle Brigade had an objective, the Perrier Ridge. After some skirmishes with German tanks around Presles, the town was finally captured before midday. With his left flank not protected, rd Colonel Harding, commanding 23 Hussars sent the A squadron under command of Major Watt towards the hamlet of Les Moulins while the main force advanced towards Le Bas Perrier in the afternoon. Not yet spotted, the German reinforcements were on their way to Vire. The 1 Kompanie of the SS Schwere Panzer Abteilung 102 under command of SS-obersturmführer Kalls was advancing from Estry OPPOSING FORCES This scenario is played between a British force and a German force. The British platoons shall be taken from the Armoured Platoon selector in the Tank War book. Historically, these units are Sherman tanks from the A rd Squadron 23 Hussars. The German platoons Armoured Platoon selector in the Tank War book. Historically, these units are from Tigers from the 1 Kompanie of the SS Schwere Panzer Abteilung 102. SET-UP This scenario requires a 6’ x4’ table with the historical terrain on it. The British player must deploy his entire force in the red area up to 12” from his edge. Then the German player must deploy his entire force in the blue area up to 12” from his edge. There is no reserve. SPECIAL RULES The hedgerows These block LOS unless either the shooter or the target unit is in base contact with them, or on top of elevated terrain like a hillock. Since these hedgerows were on top of large earth mounds, they also provide hard cover. Hedgerows count as obstacles. Furthermore, units passing through them under an “Advance” order cannot fire after they move because of the extra effort it takes to get through thick vegetation. December 2014
makes a hole the width of the tank that no longer counts as an obstacle. OBJECTIVE The goal for each side is simple: cause as much damage to the opposing forces while preserving your own. FIRST TURN The battle begins, no reserve is involved. GAME DURATION After the end of turn 6, roll a die. On a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends; on a roll of 4, 5 or 6, play one further turn. VICTORY! At the end of the game, calculate which side has won by adding the attrition values of the enemy units that were destroyed. If one side scores at 200 more points than the other, then that side has won a clear victory. Otherwise the result is a draw! AFTERMATH The Tigers opened fire simultaneously and with a well distributed fire, they quickly destroyed all but four of the A Squadron’s tanks. With his squadron’s commander badly wounded, Captain Geoffrey Taylor gained control of the situation. He managed to gather up the surviving tanks and the wounded personnel and withdrew towards the main body of the battle group. The 1 Kompanie of the 102 SS Schwere Panzer Abteilung moved towards the village of Chênedollé, south of the Perrier Ridge. OLIVIER PERRONNY
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